Elisha Nickerson1
M, b. 7 March 1706/7, d. before 28 August 1786
| Father | John Nickerson II b. c 1684, d. b 7 Sep 1762 |
| Mother | Mary (?) b. 1681, d. b May 1762 |
Elisha was born on Monday, 7 March 1706/7 in Chatham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. He was also noted as "Eliphas". Elisha married Desire Nickerson, daughter of Thomas Nickerson and Lydia Covell, circa 1735 in Chatham. Early in his adult life, Elisha moved to Hartwich, but had moved back to Chatham before 20 January 1758 when he is of record as being there. While living at Chatham he took the offer of freel land in Nova Scotia, and by the time of the writing of his father's will in 1762, he had moved to Liverpool, Nova Scotia. By March of 1769 he had moved again and had taken up residence in Argyle, Nova Scotia. Elisha departed this life before 28 August 1786 in Argyle, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. On this date Elisha's children released their rights to his land to his youngest son, Hugh.
Important Notes: "It might be noted here why so many went to Nova Scotia at that time. After the expulsion of the Acadians, the British Government was anxious to attract settlers to the lands they had vacated. In 1758 Gov. Lawrence issued a proclamation and offered immigrants transportation, free farms, and partial support until their crops were under way. Cape Cod fishermen were accustomed to this area where fish were plenty, and found the offer very tempting. Also a number of Cape Cod men had become acquainted with the area through their military service there. Families from all along the eastern shores of Massachusetts accepted the terms, and from 1760 to 1763 over fifty families from Chatham alone emigrated to that region - primarily to Liverpool and Barrington. The History of Chatham lists those who went in 1760. Nickersons included were Ebenezer, Jr., Jonathan, Elkanah, Daniel, Nathan, William 3rd, James, Elisha and Elisha, Jr. - to Liverpool; Caleb, Prince, Richard and Joshua, brothers, Eldad and Stephen, half-brothers - to Barrington."2
Important Notes: "It might be noted here why so many went to Nova Scotia at that time. After the expulsion of the Acadians, the British Government was anxious to attract settlers to the lands they had vacated. In 1758 Gov. Lawrence issued a proclamation and offered immigrants transportation, free farms, and partial support until their crops were under way. Cape Cod fishermen were accustomed to this area where fish were plenty, and found the offer very tempting. Also a number of Cape Cod men had become acquainted with the area through their military service there. Families from all along the eastern shores of Massachusetts accepted the terms, and from 1760 to 1763 over fifty families from Chatham alone emigrated to that region - primarily to Liverpool and Barrington. The History of Chatham lists those who went in 1760. Nickersons included were Ebenezer, Jr., Jonathan, Elkanah, Daniel, Nathan, William 3rd, James, Elisha and Elisha, Jr. - to Liverpool; Caleb, Prince, Richard and Joshua, brothers, Eldad and Stephen, half-brothers - to Barrington."2
Family | Desire Nickerson b. 5 Feb 1717/18 |
| Children |
|
Citations
- [S290] Nickerson Family Association, The Nickerson Family, Elisha moved to Nova Scotia. He lived in Harwich, but moved back to Chatham, his birthplace, before 20 January 1758 when he carried records of the births of his sons Elisha and Daniel to be placed on the records there. By 1764 he had moved, and was one of the original proprietors in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. As early as 1769 he lived in Argyle, NS., when it was known as "Abutuck". Simeon Perkins wrote him a letter in March 1781 asking to buy his 12 acre lot in Liverpool. (M-2) On August 28, 1786, Eliphas' children made over to their brother, Hugh, all their father's real estate in Argyle.
It might be noted here why so many went to Nova Scotia at that time. After the expulsion of the Acadians, the British Government was anxious to attract settlers to the lands they had vacated. In 1758 Gov. Lawrence issued a proclamation and offered immigrants transportation, free farms, and partial support until their crops were under way. Cape Cod fishermen were accustomed to this area where fish were plenty, and found the offer very tempting. Also a number of Cape Cod men had become acquainted with the area through their military service there. Families from all along the eastern shores of Massachusetts accepted the terms, and from 1760 to 1763 over fifty families from Chatham alone emigrated to that region - primarily to Liverpool and Barrington. The History of Chatham (A) lists those who went in 1760. Nickersons included were Ebenezer Jr., Jonathan, Elkanah, Daniel, Nathan, William 3rd, James, Elisha and Elisha, Jr.to Liverpool; Caleb, Prince, Richard and Joshua, brothers, Eldad and Stephen, half-brothers to Barrington
References:
- History of Chatham, Massachusetts - by William C. Smith, 1917.
- William Emery Nickerson papers at NEHG - S
- Mayflower Descendant - Volumes. 5,33
- Library of Cape Cod, by Swift - Doane Genealogy
- Harwich, Massachusetts, Vital Records
- hatham, Massachusetts, Vital Records
- Diary of Simeon Perkins, Champlain Soc., Liverpool, NS
. - [S2069] The Nickereson Family Associastion, The Nickerson Family - The Descendants of William Nickerson [1604-1689], First Settler of Chatham, Massachusetts, Page 48.